TELEGRAMS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10277, 4 July 1911, Page 5

TELEGRAMS.

(By Telegraph—Press Association.)

A STRANDED BARQUENTiNE. WANGANUI, Last Night, Mr F. V. Frasor, S.M., and Captains Post and Girey (assessors) sat to-day to inquire into the recent stranding of the barquentine Pelotas>. The evidence showed that the vessel had been towed over the bar by tlie Fri©clang Company's lighter Thistle, and when nearing the entrance to the river a heavy fresh overpowered the lighter, the captain of which shouted to the captain of the Polotas that he would have to tow him to sea again. This was tried, but when the vessels reached the end of the mole the current carried the Belotas ashore. At the inquiry to-day, both masters and the pilot were of the opinion that everything was done to prevent the disaster. The question was raised as to whether it would not have been better to have dropped anchor when the current became too strong. Opinion on this point was divided, some witnesses thinking such a course would have been useless, as the anchors would not have held. The Court will give its judgment in the morning. HAWKE'S BAY LIBEL CASE. NAPIER, Last Night. The Supreme Court was engaged to-day with the hearing of a libel action, H. Lan Simpson, v. George Nelsan and the Hastings Tribune, a claim for £3OOO damages. The main public interest in the suit lies in the fact tfliat Mr Nelson is a candidate for the Napier seat at the coming election, while Mr'Simpson is a candidate for Hawke's Bay. Mr Nelson, in a letter to the 'Tribune, described Mr Simpson as "an opportunist of the lowest type." The case is likely to last for a couple of days. LATER. ' The jury in the libel action Simpson against Nelson and the Hawke's Bay Tribune, after 3£ hours' retirement, returned a verdict for the plaintiff for £^o.

AN AUCKLAND MELEE

AUCKLAND, Las* Night. ' At the Police Court this morning, Geo. Rowe was charged with disorderly conduct while drunk; The police stated that the accused caused a serious'-disturbance. A crowd of 4000 gathered', and for sohiie time there, was an awful uproar. ! Fred Martin, the alleged ringleader, in an attempt to release Rowe, was arrested, and charged with, using o.bscone language. The accused were each, sentenced to three months' hard labour, and two others who figured in the melee were .fined £2 each.

FOUND IN THE HARBOUR.

NELSON, Last Night. - The body of Mrs Ann Barrowman, aged 62, a resident of Oape Foulwind, was found floating in the harbour this afternoon. She had; been staying in Nelson, and was missed about 2.30, having failed, to pay an expected visit to a relative. ' She leaves a grown-up family.

CHESS CHAMPIONSHIPS,

WELLINGTON, Last Night. The >\ew Zealand Association decided to-night to hold the next championships at Napier at Chri&tmao time.!